U.S. patent application number 10/345738 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for device for measuring force and angles.
Invention is credited to Durtschi, Michael K., Griffin, John, Hoggan, Lynn D., Wagoner, Earl Van III.
Application Number | 20040134274 10/345738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32711990 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040134274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoggan, Lynn D. ; et
al. |
July 15, 2004 |
DEVICE FOR MEASURING FORCE AND ANGLES
Abstract
Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of a body part of a patient includes a housing having at
least one contact area, and preferably two spaced apart contact
areas, for contacting and aligning the apparatus with a body part
to be tested for range of motion and an inclinometer to measure the
angle of the apparatus and produce an angle signal indicative of
the measured angle. The difference between the angle measured at
one extreme of movement of the body part and at the other extreme
of movement provides a measure of the range of motion. A force
applicator coupler couples a force applicator to a force transducer
to measure muscle strength. The force transducer produces a force
signal indicative of the force applied by the force applicator to
the force transducer. Interface circuitry which preferably includes
a microprocessor processes the angle signals and the force signals
to produce output signals to a display in the apparatus and, if
desired, to a computer programmed to receive such signals.
Inventors: |
Hoggan, Lynn D.; (Sandy,
UT) ; Griffin, John; (Phoenix, AZ) ; Wagoner,
Earl Van III; (Macon, GA) ; Durtschi, Michael K.;
(Salt Lake City, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MALLINCKRODT & MALLINCKRODT
10 EXCHANGE PLACE, SUITE 510
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
32711990 |
Appl. No.: |
10/345738 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/379.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2560/0425 20130101;
A61B 5/1071 20130101; A61B 5/4824 20130101; A61B 5/224
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
073/379.01 |
International
Class: |
G01L 003/24 |
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient, comprising: a housing having at
least one contact area for aligning the housing with a portion of a
patient's body; an inclinometer to measure the angle of the
apparatus and produce an angle signal indicative of the measured
angle; a force transducer; a force applicator coupler to secure a
force applicator to the force transducer whereby the force
transducer will measure the force applied to the transducer by the
applicator and produce a force signal indicative of the force
applied to the transducer; interface circuitry for converting the
angle signals and the force signals to usable output signals.
2. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 1,
additionally including a display, and wherein the usable output
signals operate the display to indicate the selected measured
muscle strength or measured range of motion.
3. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 2, wherein the
display is an LCD display.
4. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 2, wherein the
usable output signals include signals compatible with selected
computer programs for processing such signals.
5. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 4,
additionally including a plug for receiving a cable connected to a
computer.
6. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 4,
additionally including a memory to store the usable output signals
for later transmittal to a computer.
7. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 4,
additionally including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the
usable signals.
8. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 7, wherein the
transmitter is an RF transmitter.
9. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 7, wherein the
transmitter is an infrared light transmitter.
10. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 1, wherein the
usable output signals include signals compatible with selected
computer programs for processing such signals.
11. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 10,
additionally including a plug for receiving a cable connected to a
computer.
12. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 10,
additionally including a memory to store the usable output signals
for later transmittal to a computer.
13. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 10,
additionally including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the
usable signals.
14. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 13, wherein
the transmitter is an RF transmitter.
15. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 13, wherein
the transmitter is an infrared light transmitter.
16. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 1, wherein the
at least one contact area is two spaced apart contact areas.
17. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 16,
additionally including a nonslip surface on the contact areas.
18. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 1, wherein the
housing is configured to fit into and be held by a user's hand,
wherein a thumb operated switch determines when a measurement is to
be made, wherein the housing has an indentation aligned with a
user's thumb when the housing is properly held by a user, and the
thumb operated switch is located in the indentation to be easily
operated by a user's thumb.
19. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 18, wherein
the at least one contact area is positioned on a portion of the
apparatus that extends from a user's hand when the apparatus is
properly held by a user.
20. Apparatus for selectively testing muscle strength and range of
motion of body parts of a patient according to claim 19, wherein
the at least one contact area is two spaced apart contact areas.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The invention is in the field of musculoskeletal testing,
particularly the field of muscle strength testing referred to
sometimes as Manual Muscle Testing and Computerized Muscle Testing,
in range of motion testing, and in tender point evaluation,
particularly on human patients.
[0003] 2. State of the Art
[0004] Several instruments are currently available for use by
physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and
chiropractors for measuring muscle strength (Manual Muscle Testing
or Computerized Muscle Testing) and performing tender point
evaluation in human patients. Instruments are also available for
measuring range of motion of various body parts in human
patients.
[0005] Muscle strength testing is used to identify areas of
muscular weakness due to injury or disease. The results provide
clinicians with valuable information for diagnosis of extent of
injury and disability. Range of motion testing provides information
as to limitations in movement of body parts such as the back and
neck and again provides valuable information for diagnosis of
extent of injury and disability. The information may be used to
complete and calculate disability ratings and indexes, and compares
activities of daily living questionnaires such as the Oswestry Low
Back, Neck Pain, Rand 36, and Roland Morris questionnaires. Tender
point (algometry) evaluation indicates whether a patient is a
candidate for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia pursuant to the
American College of Rheumatology standards.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,421, issued to one of the inventors
hereof and assigned to the assignee of the present invention,
describes an apparatus for testing muscle strength which is used
extensively for muscle strength testing. It is also used for tender
point evaluation. Range of motion testing instruments are also
available. There are also several computer programs available for
recording the results of such testing and producing reports based
on such results. However, separate instruments are used to measure
muscle strength and range of motion and where both types of
measurements are being taken, as is common in many situations, the
person doing the testing must set up the instrument for one type of
testing, perform those tests, and then set up the other instrument
for and perform the other type of testing. Where the instruments
are connected to a computer, one instrument is coupled to the
computer and the measurements taken and then the other instrument
is coupled to the computer and measurements taken. This extends the
time for patient testing, increasing patient discomfort, and
increasing the cost both because of the increased time and because
of the requirement for two sets of testing equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the invention, the same apparatus is used for
both muscle strength testing and range of motion testing. While
different sensors are used for each type of measurement in the
apparatus, a single microprocessor and the same data transmission
circuits are used for determining and reporting the results of such
testing.
[0008] The apparatus of the invention includes a housing,
preferably an ergonomically designed housing sized and configured
to easily fit into and be held by a user's hand and having an
indentation aligned with the user's thumb when the housing is
properly held by a user for range of motion testing. A push button
switch is located in the indentation to be thumb operated by the
user when a range of motion measurement is desired to be made.
While a particular configuration of apparatus is shown in the
drawings with a particular configuration of thumb indentation,
various configurations and various configurations of thumb
indentations can be used and the particular configuration is not
critical. The particular configuration shown is used for aesthetic
reasons. The housing includes at least one contact area for
aligning the housing with a portion of a patient's body. This at
least one contact area is preferably two spaced apart contact areas
positioned on a portion of the housing that extends from a user's
hand when properly held in the user's hand for range of motion
testing. The contact areas may include a nonslip surface. Within
the housing is an inclinometer to measure the angle of the device
and produce an angle signal indicative of the measured angle. The
range of motion of a body part is determined by measuring the angle
of the part at one extreme of movement and measuring the angle of
the same part at the other extreme of movement. The difference of
the two measurements indicates the range of motion of the body
part.
[0009] A force applicator coupler removably secures a force
applicator to a force transducer which measures the force applied
to the transducer by the applicator and produces a force signal
indicative of the force applied. The force applicator is positioned
against a body part of the patient being tested and force is
applied between the patient's body part and the apparatus. Where
the force applied is caused by the muscles of the patient, the
force applied is a measure of muscle strength. Various force
applicators with differing surface configurations may be
selectively used for different parts of the body.
[0010] Interface circuitry converts the angle signals and the force
signals into usable output signals indicative of range of motion or
muscle strength. Such usable signals can generate a display of a
measurement of range of motion or muscle strength such as on an LCD
display included as part of the apparatus and/or may provide
signals to a computer for use in a computer program which displays
and/or prints out measurements, stores and compares measurements
and/or provides reports of measurements and differences in
measurements over time, graphs such comparisons of measurements,
etc.
[0011] The apparatus may be connected by a cable to a computer
during taking of measurements, or may transmit measurements during
taking of measurements by wireless transmission such as by RF
transmission, infrared light transmission, or any other suitable
wireless transmission.
THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the accompanying drawings, which show the best mode
currently contemplated for carrying out the invention:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front right side perspective view of an
apparatus of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2, a rear elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 without
a force applicator attached;
[0015] FIG. 3, a rear elevation similar to that of FIG. 3, showing
a force applicator attached to the apparatus and extending from the
rear thereof;
[0016] FIG. 4, a right side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with
the force applicator of FIG. 3 attached;
[0017] FIG. 5, a top plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and
4;
[0018] FIG. 6, a bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and
4;
[0019] FIG. 7, a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a
slave apparatus connected thereto;
[0020] FIG. 8, a side elevation of the force applicator of FIGS.
3-6;
[0021] FIG. 9, a side elevation of another embodiment of force
applicator;
[0022] FIG. 10, a side elevation of another embodiment of force
applicator;
[0023] FIG. 11, a side elevation of still another embodiment of
force applicator;
[0024] FIG. 12, a block diagram of circuitry of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 13, a circuit diagram of circuitry of the invention
including an RF transmitter for communication with a computer and a
connection for a slave inclinometer; and
[0026] FIG. 14, a circuit diagram similar to that of FIG. 13, but
showing a different circuit for communication with a computer and
only one inclinometer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The invention is a handheld apparatus for selectively
measuring range of motion or muscle force of a human patient. In
the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus, generally indicated as
19, includes a housing 20 with lower portion 21 sized and
configured to be held in the hand of a user. An indentation 22 is
provided to comfortably receive the thumb of a user when the
apparatus is properly held in the user's hand for range of motion
testing with a push button switch 23 which can easily be operated
by a user's thumb. When held for muscle strength testing, the index
finger rather than the thumb is received in indentation 22.
Membrane switches 24, 25, and 26 are accessible to and operable by
a user and displays 27 and 28, such as LCD displays (liquid crystal
displays), are visible to a user.
[0028] While various arrangements of switches may be used, switch
24 may be a reset switch, switch 25, a switch to set the apparatus
to muscle strength testing mode, and, once in muscle strength
testing mode, can be used to switch back and forth between two
detection thresholds, and switch 26 to set the apparatus to angle
measurement mode. The displays will display appropriate
measurements for the operating mode of the apparatus selected.
Switch 23 is used to indicate when an angle measurement is to be
accepted for determining range of motion.
[0029] For measuring range of motion, the apparatus has a contact
area which can be placed against a body part of a patient and which
will align the apparatus with the body part. The contact area
should be such that it can be aligned against the body part in a
repeatable manner so that accurate and repeatable placement against
the body part is possible to provide accurate and repeatable range
of motion measurements. In the illustrated embodiment, areas 30 and
31 provide contact areas which are placed against the body part to
be measured. Areas 30 and 31 are positioned on a portion of the
housing that extends from the user's hand when the apparatus is
held in the user's hand and are spaced apart by indentation 32 so
that the areas 30 and 31 can bridge any irregularities in the body
part between the areas 30 and 31 and give two contact points to
provide solid contact with the body part. In this way, the device
does not rock on the body part which would provide an inaccurate
measurement. Areas 30 and 31 can be formed with nonslip
surfaces.
[0030] In use for measuring range of motion, the patient is
positioned with the body part to be measured at one extreme of
movement. The areas 30 and 31 are placed against the body part or a
part connected to the body part, such as the head when range of
motion of the neck is measured, and button 23 is depressed to
initiate the measurement. The angle of the apparatus is noted and
the body part is moved to the other extreme of movement. The
apparatus is similarly positioned against the body part and button
23 is depressed to note the new angle of the apparatus. The
difference between the two noted angles is calculated to provide an
indication of the angular movement of the body part. This provides
a measurement of the range of angular motion through which the body
part can move.
[0031] In measuring the range of motion of some body parts,
movement of an additional body part affects the measurement
obtained. For example, if the range of motion of the elbow is being
measured, it is important that the arm does not move at the
shoulder. This usually is not a problem. However, a slave range of
motion apparatus or unit 35, FIG. 7, can be connected by cable 36
to and used with apparatus 19 shown, which is used as the master
apparatus or unit, and the angle measured at each extreme of
movement will be the difference between the measured angles of the
master and slave units. With proper placement of the slave unit,
the master slave arrangement will compensate for movement of other
body parts. For example, with the movement of the elbow, if
movement of the arm from the shoulder occurs and the slave unit is
against the arm between the elbow and the shoulder, movement of the
arm from the shoulder is automatically compensated for to give a
measurement of movement of only the elbow. A modular telephone
connector 37, FIG. 6, may be used to removably connect cable 36 and
slave unit 35 to master unit 19. Slave unit 35 also includes two
contact areas 38 for positioning against the patients body part to
be measured, and indentations 39 for holding and manipulating the
slave unit.
[0032] For use in measuring muscle strength, a force applicator 40,
FIGS. 3-6 and 8, is secured to a force transducer 41, FIG. 2,
located in the housing and accessible from the rear of the housing
through opening 42. While the force applicator could be permanently
secured to the apparatus, it is preferred that the force applicator
be removably secured to the force transducer so it can be changed
as desired for an applicator which best fits the particular body
part being tested. Thus, force applicator 40 includes a mounting
shaft 43, FIG. 8, which fits into applicator receiving hole 44,
FIG. 2. A spring loaded piston 45 is mounted in transducer 41 with
an end extending into receiving hole 44. The end of applicator
mounting shaft 43 is chamfered as at 46 so it engages and pushes
spring loaded piston 45 away from hole 44 as mounting shaft 43 is
pushed into hole 44. Piston 45 bears against shaft 43 to hold it in
hole 44 by friction until force applicator 40 is pulled from hole
44. If desired, an annular groove can be provided around shaft 43
to receive the end of piston 45 for a more secure mounting of force
applicator 40 in transducer 41.
[0033] Force applicator 40 also includes an applicator pad 47 which
actually contacts the body part to be tested and a disc 48
extending from mounting shaft 43 adjacent pad 47. Disc 48 contacts
transducer 41 and spaces pad 47 from apparatus housing 20 so that
it does not contact housing 20 and interfere with the force
measurements. FIGS. 9 and 10 show two variations of force
applicators that may be used for muscle strength testing. Each is
similar to applicator 40 except for the shape of the pad which is
differently configured to fit different parts of the body. Pad 50
of the applicator of FIG. 9 has an extension 51 extending across
pad 50 with an inwardly curved surface 52. Pad 53 of the applicator
of FIG. 10 has a narrower extension 54 extend across an
intermediate portion of pad 53 with an inwardly curved surface 55.
A user selects the force applicator which best fits the body part
to be tested. FIG. 10 also shows a groove 56 in receiving shaft 43
for engagement by piston 45.
[0034] FIG. 11 shows a fourth applicator which may be used for
tender point evaluation for testing for fibromyalgia. The
applicator of FIG. 11 is similar to those of FIGS. 8-10, but
includes a further shaft 57 extending outwardly from disc 58
adjacent disc 48 with a small pad 59 on its end. This pad 59 has
relatively small surface area. Disc 58 is not necessary, but is
convenient because it is actually present in the applicators of
FIGS. 8-10, but is not visible because it is covered by the
respective pads 47, 50, and 53. In use, a user places pad 59
against selected locations on a patient's body and applies force to
the apparatus which applies the force to the body location through
pad 59. Force is applied until either a desired force is applied
without pain to the patient or until pain is felt by the patient
and a reading of the force applied to create pain is recorded.
[0035] FIG. 12 shows a basic block diagram of an apparatus of the
invention. A selected force applicator as shown in FIGS. 8-11 is
coupled through a force applicator coupling to a force transducer
60. For force transducer 41 previously illustrated and described,
the applicator coupling comprises receiving hole 44. The force
transducer 60 produces a force signal indicative of the force
applied to the force transducer. The force signal is amplified by
amplifier 61 and the amplified force signal is fed to a
microprocessor 62. A inclinometer 63, such as a U.S. Digital Model
T2-3600 inclinometer, is positioned in the apparatus to provide an
angle signal indicative of the angle of the apparatus. The angle
signal as produced by the indicated inclinometer is a series of
pulses that indicate angular movement. The angle signal is
connected to a sixteen bit counter 64 which counts the pulses from
the inclinometer. The count output is an indication of the angular
movement of the apparatus from an arbitrary start position and is
connected to the microprocessor 62. An optional slave inclinometer
65 is connected to sixteen bit counter 66 which is also connected
to microprocessor 62. Membrane switches 24, 25, and 26 of FIG. 1
are indicated as a group as inputs 67 to microprocessor 62, and
thumb switch 23, FIG. 1, is indicated as input 68 to microprocessor
62.
[0036] Microprocessor 62 provides output signals to displays 27 and
28, FIG. 1, indicated as displays 70, and can provide computer
compatible output signals directly to a computer through a wire
connected to a serial output port 71, or to a wireless transmitter
such as an RF transmitter 72.
[0037] Microprocessor 62 is programmed to control operation of the
apparatus in response to input through the membrane switches 67 and
the thumb switch 68. Although a master on-off switch could be
provided, in the illustrated apparatus, the microprocessor is
programmed so if no inputs are received by the microprocessor for a
predetermined time period, such as three minutes, the
microprocessor puts the circuitry into sleep mode by turning
everything off. This conserves power. Then, upon receiving an input
from the reset switch 24, the circuit is again activated. When the
apparatus is in the force measurement mode, a force is sensed by
the force transducer and is sent to the microprocessor. The
microprocessor is programmed so that if the apparatus is in the
range of motion mode, operation of the force measurement switch 25
puts the circuitry into force measurement mode. When in force
measurement mode, further operation of the force measurement switch
25 changes back and forth between two threshold values. Operation
is controlled so that when force is applied through the force
applicator to the force transducer 60, the microprocessor generates
display signals to indicate on the display the force measured.
After the measured force exceeds the set threshold, the force
signals are displayed on the display substantially as measured
until the measured force drops below the set threshold. At that
time, the microprocessor assumes that the force measurement has
been taken and displays the maximum force measured during the time
the measurements were above the threshold. When force measurements
again exceed the set threshold, the cycle starts over and
measurements are displayed until the measured force drops below the
threshold and again the maximum force measured during that period
is displayed.
[0038] When the inclinometer or range of motion switch 26 is
activated, the circuitry switches to range of motion mode. In such
mode, the microprocessor 62 reads the sixteen bit counter 64 and,
if the slave unit is connected, also reads counter 66. It causes
display of angle measurements on displays 27 and 28. When thumb
switch 23 is actuated, meaning that a range of motion measurement
should be started, the microprocessor notes the angle value and
continues to measure angles. When switch 23 is again actuated,
meaning that the range of motion measurement should be completed,
the second measured angle value is noted and the microprocessor
calculates and displays the difference between the two noted angles
measured which indicates the angular range of motion. Also upon
actuation of switch 23, the microprocessor, if the apparatus is
connected to transmit signals to a computer, indicates actuation of
switch 23, such as by a change of a bit in the signals sent to the
computer, to indicate actuation of the switch to the computer. This
allows the computer to make its own calculation of range of motion.
Pressing the reset switch will reset the microprocessor and zero
the displays.
[0039] FIG. 13 shows circuitry for the blocks in FIG. 12 using the
RF transmitter for communication with a computer, as well as some
additional circuitry. The force transducer 60 is a bridge circuit
of strain gauges 80. This is connected to amplifier 61 which is a
standard two stage amplifier including operational amplifiers IC1
and IC2. The resistors set the gain for the amplifiers. The output
of IC1 is connected to microprocessor 62. Master inclinometer 63 is
connected to sixteen bit counter 64 which is connected to
microprocessor 62. Slave inclinometer 65, if provision is made for
such slave unit, is connected, when desired, through modular
connector 37 to sixteen bit counter 66. Counter 66 is connected to
microprocessor 62. Circuit block 81 which includes operational
amplifies IC3 connected as a current sensor detects and signals
microprocessor 62 when slave inclinometer 65 is plugged into the
apparatus. Circuitry 82 operates when reset switch 24 is actuated
to reset the circuitry. The voltage dividers in circuitry 83
provide positive and negative reference voltages for use in
converting the analog muscle strength signals to digital signals.
Circuitry 84 is the power supply circuitry with battery B1 and
voltage regulator IC4. The capacitors filter the power from the
regulator. Resistors R1 and R2 form a voltage divider to produce a
reference voltage for converting the analog voltage value of the
battery to a digital signal. Resistor R3 and Transistor T1 operate
to turn on the RF transmitter circuitry 72 when needed. Resistor R4
and Transistor T2 turn on the amplifier circuitry 61, resistor R5
and transistor T3 turn on the inclinometers 63 and 65 and counters
64 and 66, and resistor R6 and transistor T4 turn on the display.
Resister R7 is a current limiting resister in the data line from
the microprocessor to the RF transmitter. Crystal 85 with
capacitors C1 and C2 set the clock rate for the microprocessor 62.
Reference number 86 represents a jumper that can be placed in the
circuitry when desired to read out the force measured by force
transducer 60 in units of Newtons rather than in pounds.
[0040] FIG. 14 shows circuitry the same as that of FIG. 13, except
that a serial data output to a cable plug rather than the RF
transmitter is shown for communication with a computer, and no
provision is shown for connection of a slave inclinometer. The
circuitry of block 71 includes a relay 90 which operates when a
cable is connected to modular connector 91 to supply power through
a voltage regulator IC6 to the plug as well as to IC7 which is
connected to the data line from the microprocessor to condition the
data for transmission the computer. It is currently preferred to
provide an apparatus with either a cable connection to a computer
and no provision for a slave unit or an apparatus with the slave
unit and a wireless communication with a computer. This provides a
choice of option and price. However, an apparatus including
provision for the slave unit and both computer communication
options can be offered. The apparatus can be used with computer
software currently available from Hoggan Health Industries in
Draper, Utah, or with software available from Myo-Logic
Diagnostics, Inc. The apparatus can also be used as a stand alone
unit where the measurements are recorded by hand from the apparatus
displays.
[0041] Whereas the invention is here illustrated and described with
reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best
mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is to be
understood that various changes may be made in adapting the
invention to different embodiments without departing from the
broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the
claims that follow.
* * * * *